Youth Sports Policy Youth Sports Policy

in Latviain Latviain Latviain Latvia

Structure of Sports InstitutionsStructure of Sports Institutions

and Organizations in Latviaand Organizations in Latvia

� Sports subcommission of the Parliament (Saeima) of the

Republic of Latvia

� The Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Latvia

� Ministry of Education and Science of the Republic of Latvia

Latvian National Sports Council� Latvian National Sports Council

Documents of Sports PolicyDocuments of Sports Policy

in Latviain Latvia

� Sports Law (28.11.2002) – the purpose of this Law is to determine the basis of sports organization and development

� Sport Policy Guidelines for 2004-2009 determine sports policy for five years

� National Sport Development Program (NSDP) for 2006-2012determines the course of sports development for the further six National Sport Development Program (NSDP) for 2006-2012determines the course of sports development for the further six years. Goals and expected outcomes of NSDP complies with priorities set by European Sports Charter.

� The priority determined by NSDP – children and youth sport

� NSDP – continuation of coming ideas and beginning of many new projects

Latvia within the European Union Latvia within the European Union

�� Since May 1, 2004 Latvia is a fullSince May 1, 2004 Latvia is a full--fledged member of the European Union, fledged member of the European Union,

taking part in the process of preparation and adoption of EU legal acts. taking part in the process of preparation and adoption of EU legal acts.

�� Latvia has actively participated in the elaboration of the White Paper Latvia has actively participated in the elaboration of the White Paper inin

Sport, endorsed by The European Commission on July 11Sport, endorsed by The European Commission on July 11, 2007, 2007

�� Among the Baltic States Latvia was the first to join the Among the Baltic States Latvia was the first to join the Enlarged Partial Enlarged Partial

Agreement on Sport (EPAS)Agreement on Sport (EPAS)Agreement on Sport (EPAS)Agreement on Sport (EPAS)

�� As active EU memberAs active EU member--country, Latvia organized a Summit of North country, Latvia organized a Summit of North

European sports ministers, in which the decision was made to organize European sports ministers, in which the decision was made to organize

North European Children and Youth Sports Festival, which took place in North European Children and Youth Sports Festival, which took place in

Vilnius, Lithuania, this yearVilnius, Lithuania, this year

�� This year the General Assembly of European Olympic Committees took This year the General Assembly of European Olympic Committees took

place in Latviaplace in Latvia

�� To stimulate the development of youth sports, Latvia stood as a candidate To stimulate the development of youth sports, Latvia stood as a candidate

for hosting European Youth Olympic Gamesfor hosting European Youth Olympic Games

Formal EducationFormal Education

School Subject “Sport”School Subject “Sport”

�� New standard of school subject “Sport”;New standard of school subject “Sport”;

�� Pillars of the school subject “Sport”:Pillars of the school subject “Sport”:

knowledge and comprehension about sports;knowledge and comprehension about sports;�� knowledge and comprehension about sports;knowledge and comprehension about sports;

�� basic skills in sports drills;basic skills in sports drills;

�� development of physical skills as a prerequizite for strengthening and development of physical skills as a prerequizite for strengthening and

improving health; improving health;

�� Basic skills necessary for wholesome social and private life. Basic skills necessary for wholesome social and private life.

Sports Inventory Acquisition Sports Inventory Acquisition

Aid Program Aid Program

�� The objective of the tender was to support municipality projects contributing to the The objective of the tender was to support municipality projects contributing to the

harmonious development of both physical and intellectual personality, thus harmonious development of both physical and intellectual personality, thus

ensuring full implementation of the content of the school subject “Sport”ensuring full implementation of the content of the school subject “Sport”

�� Within the framework of this program 151 projects received endorsements Within the framework of this program 151 projects received endorsements

exceeding 700.000 EURexceeding 700.000 EUR

Availability of GymAvailability of Gym--halls halls

at Educational Institutionsat Educational Institutions�� State Investment Program State Investment Program –– construction of school gymconstruction of school gym--hallshalls

�� Period of 2000. Period of 2000. –– 2007. 76 new sports gym2007. 76 new sports gym--halls, 71 fully renovated gymhalls, 71 fully renovated gym--hallshalls

�� July 2007 July 2007 –– international seminar “Sports bases in Latvia international seminar “Sports bases in Latvia –– planning, construction planning, construction

quality and security requirements”quality and security requirements”quality and security requirements”quality and security requirements”

Professionally Orientated Professionally Orientated

Sports Education ProgramSports Education ProgramNumber of trainees in educational training groupsNumber of trainees in educational training groups

8055

7878

7703

5613 5320

5641

57316000

7000

8000

9000

4153

41774048

4455

3616

3161

3160

3698

23022263

2366

19112074

2307

10451087

1027 761

646

701

544520 473

165166 182

0

1000

2000

3000

4000

5000

MT - 1 MT - 2 MT - 3 MT - 4 MT - 5 MT - 6 MT - 7 SMP - 1 SMP - 2 SMP - 3 ASM

2004./2005.

2005./2006.

2006./2007.

Total – 35687 children

Informal Education Informal Education

Education of interestsEducation of interests

�� Develops abilities and talents of children and youthDevelops abilities and talents of children and youth

�� Practically not included in the system of competition;Practically not included in the system of competition;

TotalTotal-- 35453 children35453 children

Volunteer ProgramVolunteer Program

�� Volunteer seminars have taken place in 12 regions and cities of Latvia;Volunteer seminars have taken place in 12 regions and cities of Latvia;

�� More than 350 schoolchildren between ages 14More than 350 schoolchildren between ages 14--16 have participated in seminars16 have participated in seminars

�� Almost all Latvia’s 33 regions and large cities have held Regional Olympic Days, Almost all Latvia’s 33 regions and large cities have held Regional Olympic Days, involving young volunteers as organizers and aides;involving young volunteers as organizers and aides;

�� Latvian Youth Olympiad in Ventspils (10Latvian Youth Olympiad in Ventspils (10––13 My, 2007) attracted 60 young 13 My, 2007) attracted 60 young volunteer aides from all regions and cities of Latviakā. volunteer aides from all regions and cities of Latviakā.

Dreams and TeamsDreams and Teams

�� A Project of informal education A Project of informal education Dreams and TeamsDreams and Teams is being conducted in is being conducted in

association with the British Council. Its objective is to develop leadership skills in association with the British Council. Its objective is to develop leadership skills in

schoolchildren.schoolchildren.

�� Young Young LLeaders organize and eaders organize and conductconduct sports festivals for hundreds of local sports festivals for hundreds of local youthyouth. .

By running these eventsBy running these events,, Young Leaders are challenged to:Young Leaders are challenged to:

�� demonstrate leadershipdemonstrate leadership

�� be active citizens in their communitybe active citizens in their community

�� value and promote crossvalue and promote cross--cultural understandingcultural understanding

Enhancing Healthy LifestyleEnhancing Healthy Lifestyle

�� Some of the projects implemented by Ministry of Education and Some of the projects implemented by Ministry of Education and Science in association with NonScience in association with Non--governmental Organisations:governmental Organisations:

�� Latvian Youth OlympiadLatvian Youth Olympiad

�� ZZ ChampionshipZZ Championship

�� Be ActiveBe Active

The Sportiest ClassThe Sportiest Class�� The Sportiest ClassThe Sportiest Class

�� Availability of Sports Bases to the group of population subject to the risk Availability of Sports Bases to the group of population subject to the risk of social repudiation of social repudiation

�� Posture TeachingPosture Teaching

�� Project “Footprints”Project “Footprints”

�� Annual Sports PrizeAnnual Sports Prize

�� Etc.Etc.

Latvian Youth OlympiadLatvian Youth Olympiad

�� The largest integrated youth sports eventThe largest integrated youth sports event

�� Winter and Summer Youth Olympiade Winter and Summer Youth Olympiade

�� 2007 Summer Olympiad 2007 Summer Olympiad –– 2209 participants2209 participants

�� 90 best to participate in YOF in Belgrade90 best to participate in YOF in Belgrade

Sports in schoolsSports in schoolsZZ ChampionshipZZ Championship

-- Objective Objective –– to ensure the participation of the whole class.to ensure the participation of the whole class.

-- no backstanders no backstanders

-- synergy of physical and intellectual abilitiessynergy of physical and intellectual abilities

The Sportiest ClassThe Sportiest Class

� Evaluation of overall class participation in sports activities – participating,

organising and showing support;

� Within the framework of the project classes were conducted by popular athletes in

Latvia;

� Students received information about sports clubs and institutions.� Students received information about sports clubs and institutions.

Be ActiveBe Active

�� Makes sports classes more attractiveMakes sports classes more attractive

�� Maintains student’s interest about individual growth during the year Maintains student’s interest about individual growth during the year

�� Urges to follow sports activities;Urges to follow sports activities;

�� Involves parents;Involves parents;

�� Builds responsibility triangle studentsBuilds responsibility triangle students--teachersteachers--parents;parents;

�� Result Result –– possible proposals for changes in the content of the school subject Sport.possible proposals for changes in the content of the school subject Sport.�� Result Result –– possible proposals for changes in the content of the school subject Sport.possible proposals for changes in the content of the school subject Sport.

Posture Teaching Posture Teaching

Last school year the Club of Latvian Olympians initiated a special Last school year the Club of Latvian Olympians initiated a special –– educational program for educational program for

teachers in posture teaching “Practical use of posture teaching during classes in the first three teachers in posture teaching “Practical use of posture teaching during classes in the first three

grades”, which engaged teachers from 22 schools of Latvia.grades”, which engaged teachers from 22 schools of Latvia.

For the practical use of posture teaching during classes under the guidance of class teacher the For the practical use of posture teaching during classes under the guidance of class teacher the

following demands were put forth:following demands were put forth:

�� More than 85% of primary school students were diagnosed with posture problems;More than 85% of primary school students were diagnosed with posture problems;

�� Education of allEducation of all--round subject teachers;round subject teachers;�� Education of allEducation of all--round subject teachers;round subject teachers;

�� In 2006 participants from 22 schools;In 2006 participants from 22 schools;

�� In 2007 participants from 50 schools;In 2007 participants from 50 schools;

�� Ultimate diagnostics with regular monitoring and measurements;Ultimate diagnostics with regular monitoring and measurements;

�� Movement exercise intermissions during the class (breathing, blood circulation, posture);Movement exercise intermissions during the class (breathing, blood circulation, posture);

�� Possible proposals for the organisation of teaching process in the primary classes.Possible proposals for the organisation of teaching process in the primary classes.

Integration of SocietyIntegration of SocietyMinority nationalitiesMinority nationalities

�� Children’s and Youth Festival of Minority Nationalities of Latvia;Children’s and Youth Festival of Minority Nationalities of Latvia;

�� 18 years experience;18 years experience;

�� Approx. 800 participants; Approx. 800 participants;

Wheel BasketballWheel Basketball

�� Joint project of Ministry of Education and Science Joint project of Ministry of Education and Science –– the British Council the British Council –– the the

Embassy of Great Britian Embassy of Great Britian

�� Objective of the project Objective of the project –– to encourage children and youth with disabilities to join to encourage children and youth with disabilities to join

physical activities physical activities

-- camp;camp;

-- referee workshop;referee workshop;-- referee workshop;referee workshop;

-- state competition Latvia vs. Great Britainstate competition Latvia vs. Great Britain

-- demonstration shows in Arena Rigademonstration shows in Arena Riga

Support for social risk groupsSupport for social risk groups

�� NSDP NSDP –– new opportunitiesnew opportunities

�� Children from the families with limited resources involved ir sportsChildren from the families with limited resources involved ir sports

�� Sports centSports centreres offers creative ideass offers creative ideas

�� Children remains in sportChildren remains in sport

Project FOOTPRINTSProject FOOTPRINTS

�� Project of environmental education Project of environmental education

�� CleanClean--up turned into competitionup turned into competition

�� Participation of elite athletesParticipation of elite athletes

National Sports AwardsNational Sports Awards

�� Annual national Sports Awards CeremonyAnnual national Sports Awards Ceremony

�� Live on National TelevisionLive on National Television

�� High awareness of society;High awareness of society;

�� Among 13 nominations Among 13 nominations –– TEACHER OF THE YEAR;TEACHER OF THE YEAR;

�� Winner of the year 2005 works in the school for children with mental disabilities.Winner of the year 2005 works in the school for children with mental disabilities.

Youth sports organizations.Youth sports organizations.

Coordination of operations.

Youth Sports CouncilYouth Sports Council

�� According to European Sports Charter Article 3 “....essential is to ensure According to European Sports Charter Article 3 “....essential is to ensure

establishment of machinery for the development and coestablishment of machinery for the development and co--ordination of sport”.ordination of sport”.

�� Consulting council,Consulting council,

�� Proposals for sport policy makers;Proposals for sport policy makers;

�� Budgeting proposals;Budgeting proposals;

�� Coordination of competition schedules and activities.Coordination of competition schedules and activities.�� Coordination of competition schedules and activities.Coordination of competition schedules and activities.

�� Meetings Meetings –– twice a monthtwice a month

Latvian School Sports federationLatvian School Sports federation

�� Organizes and coordinates competition within schools;Organizes and coordinates competition within schools;

�� NSDP NSDP –– new opportunities;new opportunities;

�� Additional funding to improve capacity of federationAdditional funding to improve capacity of federation;;

�� Summer seminars for teachersSummer seminars for teachers;;

�� Trend Trend –– more nonmore non--competitive activitiescompetitive activities;;

The finals of school competition in volleyball.

1140 participants. Competitions held on 12 courts simultaneously.

Medical careMedical careMedical careMedical care

�� CoCo--operation with Sports Medicine State Agencyoperation with Sports Medicine State Agency

�� Control and Monitoring of children involved in Control and Monitoring of children involved in

Professionally oriented sports education programmesProfessionally oriented sports education programmes

Preventive medical examinationsPreventive medical examinations;;�� Preventive medical examinationsPreventive medical examinations;;

�� Additional preventive medical examinationsAdditional preventive medical examinations;;

�� Annual medical examinationsAnnual medical examinations;;

�� ObservationsObservations;;

�� Medical care and rehabilitationMedical care and rehabilitation..

�� NSDP NSDP –– new opportunitiesnew opportunities

�� Over 700 000 EUR distributed to municipalities and sport Over 700 000 EUR distributed to municipalities and sport federations to ensure:federations to ensure:

-- children monitoring at their place of residence;children monitoring at their place of residence;-- children monitoring at their place of residence;children monitoring at their place of residence;

-- improved monitoring during youth sport events.improved monitoring during youth sport events.

�� Early professional orientation:Early professional orientation:

-- early success;early success;

-- burning out;burning out;

-- longlong--lasting sport activities;lasting sport activities;

-- additional researchesadditional researches to be doneto be done..

Youth Sports CompetitionYouth Sports Competition

�� Funding for over 70 sports federations and especially, their Funding for over 70 sports federations and especially, their activities in the field of youth sport.activities in the field of youth sport.

�� Funding and other support for the youth events organised in Funding and other support for the youth events organised in Latvia by sports federations:Latvia by sports federations:

-- European Championship in Volleyball UEuropean Championship in Volleyball U--18 (2006)18 (2006)

-- World Championship in iceWorld Championship in ice--hockey (Uhockey (U--18) (2006)18) (2006)

-- European Championship in floor ball (UEuropean Championship in floor ball (U--18) (2006) 18) (2006)

-- European championship in basketball UEuropean championship in basketball U--16 (2007.)16 (2007.)

-- World championship in iceWorld championship in ice--hockey Uhockey U--20 (2007.)20 (2007.)

Sports for disabled childrenSports for disabled children

�� Support for activities of disabledSupport for activities of disabled

�� Since 2000 Latvia Academy of Sports education offers special educational Since 2000 Latvia Academy of Sports education offers special educational

course ADAPTED SPORTS EDUCATION (mandatory for those studying course ADAPTED SPORTS EDUCATION (mandatory for those studying

coaching, teaching, sports managing, physiotherapeuticcoaching, teaching, sports managing, physiotherapeutic treatmenttreatment). ).

�� Support for Special Olympics (mental disability) activities in Latvia. Support for Special Olympics (mental disability) activities in Latvia.

Majority of new sport facilities in Latvia are accessible for disabledMajority of new sport facilities in Latvia are accessible for disabledMajority of new sport facilities in Latvia are accessible for disabledMajority of new sport facilities in Latvia are accessible for disabled

Students sportsStudents sports

�� Students sport in Latvia is coordinated and overlooked by the Sports Union Students sport in Latvia is coordinated and overlooked by the Sports Union

of Latvian Higher Education Institutions (SULHEI)of Latvian Higher Education Institutions (SULHEI)

-- annual students competitions;annual students competitions;

-- participation in international students sport events;participation in international students sport events;

�� SELL games in 2005 organized in Latvia by the SULHEI (participants SELL games in 2005 organized in Latvia by the SULHEI (participants

from Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, Poland, Portugal)from Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, Poland, Portugal)

�� New NSAP initiative New NSAP initiative –– special grants for the most talented students in special grants for the most talented students in

sports.sports.

Continuing educationContinuing education

�� Latvia Center of Coaches Continuing education (LCCCE) Latvia Center of Coaches Continuing education (LCCCE) –– opportunity for opportunity for coaches self developmentcoaches self development

�� Coaching certificate needed to run the children sport activities.Coaching certificate needed to run the children sport activities.

�� Certification organized by Council of Latvian Sport Federations.Certification organized by Council of Latvian Sport Federations.�� Certification organized by Council of Latvian Sport Federations.Certification organized by Council of Latvian Sport Federations.

Future challenges children and youth

sports in Latvia

�� Implement National Sport Development Programme 2006Implement National Sport Development Programme 2006--2012, providing 2012, providing

sufficient financial resources for the implementation of the Programme and the sufficient financial resources for the implementation of the Programme and the

individual sections thereofindividual sections thereof

�� Work out precisely defined action plans corresponding to priority action directions Work out precisely defined action plans corresponding to priority action directions

for all bodies involved in the implementation of the National Sport Development for all bodies involved in the implementation of the National Sport Development

Programme 2006Programme 2006--20122012

Work out and adopt the Physical Education Law, in order to straighten physical Work out and adopt the Physical Education Law, in order to straighten physical �� Work out and adopt the Physical Education Law, in order to straighten physical Work out and adopt the Physical Education Law, in order to straighten physical

education system (pyramid principle) in Latviaeducation system (pyramid principle) in Latvia

�� Continue develop of appropriate links between schools or other educational Continue develop of appropriate links between schools or other educational

establishments, school sports clubs and local sports clubsestablishments, school sports clubs and local sports clubs

�� Improve system for children and youth sports financing, implementing financing Improve system for children and youth sports financing, implementing financing

system on principle system on principle –– “money follows after student”“money follows after student”

�� Strengthen cooperation with Ministry of Health, set up the common action plan to Strengthen cooperation with Ministry of Health, set up the common action plan to

fight obesity, overweight and ensure children involvement in physical activitiesfight obesity, overweight and ensure children involvement in physical activities